Sunday, February 15, 2009

2/15/09: This post has been rehashed in light of Mr. Wild's appearance on the Tyra Banks show further discussing his termination from Subway. Since this time Subway has enacted a non-discrimination policy protecting employees based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Please urge them to uphold their policy and reinstate this worker as well as issue an apology.

9/5/08: "22-year-old gay porn star Kurt Wild was fired from his day job at a Subway restaurant outside of St. Louis when a customer recognized him and threatened to boycott the fast food joint if Wild wasn't fired.

Wild says in an email:

Hey everyone.

I just wanted to tell everyone that I was just fired from my work at subway because I have done gay porn. A customer said they wouldn't even eat there at subway anymore because of my past work and said that if I wasn't fired then they would boycott the store. What I say is, if one person can try to ruin me everywhere I work... maybe I should take a stand and boycott their store too if they can't let people's privacy be treated right. I should have the right to work anywhere I can and it isn't right or fair that people can keep me from working simply because of a "gay" issue. If a girl did what we do it would probably be ok.. and if a guy does straight porn.. he is bragged about. When I do gay porn, I feel a bit lynched for the rest of my life. Not right. Thanks for reading.- Kurt Wild" (BGay.com)

People have the right to make their own choices, and Mr. Wild should not be fired from employment due to sexual orientation and his former career in pornography. Sadly the state of Missouri does not have employment protections for people based on sexual orientation so Subway did not violate any laws.

I urge you to join me in calling on Subway to apologize for firing Mr. Kurt Wild at one of their St. Louis locations and letting them know we will not stand for this type of discrimination.

I wonder the same thing that Michael said.If that person wasn't watching gay porn thenthey would never have known who that kidwas. I do think that what that kid says is right.Heck, I don't care about what happened in thepast just so long as the present and futureare better and you've washed your hands :)

Haha I agree I only demand they wash their hands. I don't care if someone was in porn, was a prostitute, whatever. Does that change the way the guy is capable of making a sandwich? I think the only thing this customer did to themselves is place themselves in the spotlight for possibly being a closeted gay.

If I was this man's manager, I would have laughed in the face of the idiot who complained. I would have asked those uncomfortable questions, and I damn well would have brought them up when the media was called in.

I hope that Wild has no trouble finding a new job. And that he gets royalties from his other work, heh.

I have to say that I agree, but I'll also say that if I saw a porn actor in public I'd probably never recognize them. Maybe...maybe if it was a porn I watched over and over and over again, then I could probably connect the face with the sex. But a one time thing? Not a chance in hell. This guy had to be paying some pretty close attention! =P

So...fella just happens to recognize a porn star and demands he's fired because...he has spent enough time watching gay porn to recognize actors? Was he angry because he'd developed callouses? Didn't offer him to give him something extra with his foot long?

What is most irritating is that Subway didn't violate any laws because it is legal to fire someone for being gay in MO.

Some arguments have been raised that maybe the Subway location is privately owned as they are a franchiser. I still would urge people to contact Subway because this damages their reputation as a chain. It is imperative that Subway not allow its franchisees to behave in this fashion in the name of the corporation. Plus I don't know if its own by the corp or privately owned.

Shoot. I'm gay as a picnic basket but would not have recognized him as a porn star. Gay yes, but not as a porn star. I'm to cheap to buy porn - not that I wouldn't watch it if I had the opportunity.

I live in Miami and Florida is not a "right to work" state, meaning that they can fire you if they don't like your tie. Florida is also the only state in the union (so far) where a gay person cannot adopt a minor child. Isn't that special?

Kurt - if you don't want to leave Missouri, buy a video camera and market whatever comes out of it.

Kurt, I'm a straight guy who's calling bullshit on this. To hell with Subway. I promise you a sexual favor of your choice just to say "fuck those guys!" Don't know if I can perform, but I'll take one for the team just to say "fuck you!" to that store, the manager, and anyone who supports such a decision. You let me know where you work next and I'll make it a point to shop there. I'll tell them why, too.

I'm straight, too, but this is just wrong, wrong, wrong. I'd rather have a gay guy with good hygiene make my sandwich rather than some of the clueless (presumably straight) morons I've seen at Subway touching their face or pulling crap out of their pockets WITH GLOVES ON. Christ on a stick! They're not *magic* gloves. They are designed to be a barrier between your germy mits and the food you are preparing.

If i'm not mistaken didn't Clinton issue a FEDERAL Executive Order citing that sexual discrimination is illegal? Those have the same weight as law right? Isn't that why everyone is pissed off with Bush? I think a lawyer should be retained for this.

Grrr... stuff like this makes me so angry! So what if Wild was previously in porn? That's in the past & it's his own damn business. Like others said, how did he recognize Wild? He must have seen that particular porno quite a few times if he was able to recognize him easily. I say that we should fight fire w/ fire. That homophobic bastard said he was going to boycott Subway?

I say that WE the people boycott Subways across America until justice has been served.

Wow.Pretty typical for the Misery,though.Some douchebag,who's completely oblivious to the fact he's just admitted that he's an aficionado of gay porn,outs a guy trying to make an honest living(though the wages at Subway have got to be crap),gets him fired,and gives us yet another reason to hate Republicans(and before anybody starts trying to claim I'm jumping to conclusions,I live in Missouri,and I am very well versed in the ways of republican,Christiofascist closet fags,so I'm very confident it was one of that not so silent majority that make this sate such an awful place to live).

I'm av straight buy who thinks you should be allowed to keep you'r job.On the otherhand, the lawsuit you should bring if fired should bring in a pretty good amount of cash to see you through.SUE THIER PANTS OFF!!!

This time it's "You did gay porn." Next time it"s "You cut me off in traffic last week." One person can get you fired by threatening a boycott? What's next? "Fire that employee! I refuse to be served by a Mexican/white/black/ female/male/Catholic/Baptist/tall person/short person ......"

"I'm curious; what's gay porn like? How many gay porn stars do you know by face? I can tell you if Charmane Star, Raven Riley or even one of the standard guys like Tom Byron came in here, I would recognize them right off the bat. But I couldn't recognize any gay porn stars. Why? Because I don't watch gay porn. Now, tell me, why is it that you recognize a gay porn star again?"

"..."

Manager should be fired for bringing bad attention to Subway, but this is MO, and bigotry is seriously common there, having spent the first 18 summers of my life in a small town in MO.

It doesn't matter what the Missouri laws are, the federal anti-discrimination laws supercede any state laws. I bet if you call a few lawyers there would be one happy to help you sue Subway at to cost to you.

I find this a tad too convenient. He's 22 and a "star" in homosexual productions. Certainly he could find more remunerative avocations than five dollar per hour sandwich maker.Rather, I think the whole thing was an attempt at publicity. Notwithstanding, I will eschew the special sauce henceforth.

His solecisms alone make it obvious he is unsuitable for most employment regardless of his orientation.

The fact is, your employer can fire you because they don't like the color of your fingernail polish and find some other reason for termination to cover it up. That's life; that's business. It sucks, it isn't fair, but it just is.

What IS fair is an employer's right to protect himself from losing business because of an employee's reputation or past work. When you are involved in such controversial a subject as pornography--and your face is sold along with the tapes--you've screwed yourself. It's absurd to think that you can sell sex one day and work in business the next. It's unprofessional.

Sorry dude. That's a con he should of thought about before he signed on for porn.

I absolutely LOVE the comment 'Oh, additionally, if that person tried to picket the store, I would stand right next to him with a sign that says "This guy watches gay porn."'

I agree 100%. In fact, I would make the trip to Missouri JUST to stand next to the guy who does that.

As for that Subway - FOR SHAME. It doesn't matter that its not illegal to fire someone for something like that. What matters is personal integrity.

I am a manager for a fast food restaurant, and I GUARANTEE you that if ANY of my customers came after one of my employees like that, I would not only call the police and have them removed from the property; but I would ALSO call and file trespassing charges against them any time they came on my property. Potentially restraining orders also. Yeah, dude - good luck protesting across the street at the competition. Hope you enjoy it.

That is ridiculous. Print the managers phone number or Subway number I can call and complain and I will! Also: "Queers United"? I think that is not a very positive title for this deal and we should all stop using the word "queer".

Kurt, do you know the name of the complaining customer? If so, POST IT! As other people have said, how can the guy recognize you unless he's seen your work?

If he wanted you fired so badly, he MUST be proud to have people know who he is, right? Well, let's have his name. This (presumably) good Christian man wouldn't have any objection to that, would he? I mean, what could he possibly have to hide?

When it comes down to it, you've got money to make. Calling the police, having him removed from property, and filing a restraining order against a customer seems like a lot of talk [and, plus, complaints aren't grounds for restraining orders; those are reserved for violent or frightening threats].

This guy has sold his image alongside PORNOGRAPHY. That is very different from simply being gay at work. This isn't a gay issue at all; this is an issue of an employee with an innapropriate past. Everyone remember the last job application they filled out? You also list past felonies. That's because employers must protect themselves.

I feel really bad for the guy, but he made a very unfortunate decision.

I don't think this person should have been fired, but one thing I'm wondering is if he falsified his employment history on the job application? It sounds like the manager might not have known he was in porn, gay or strait. If he didn't then I definitely say sue.

Also: "Queers United"? I think that is not a very positive title for this deal and we should all stop using the word "queer".

There is actually a very large movement in the LGBT (lesbian gay bisexual transgendered) community to take back the word queer. Not only for similar reasons as the black community taking back the N-word, but also because queer would be an easy all inclusive term for everyone in LGBT community, much easier for the public to remember than LGBT.

Subway is disgusting anyway, they wear those gloves for more than one sammich and get other people's crap on your sandwich. Gross.

I can see where a small business owner would freak out but I'd have looked the guy in the face and told him "I'll follow you to work and ask you in front of your boss, when it was you saw this video? Or maybe at church or at home or on Mother's Day."

I do have money to make. And any time I've had to call the police, I haven't lost enough money to make not sticking up for my employees worth it.

I have called the police for less, and I would call the police for less. As far as restraining orders -- it's private property. If I have to call on it enough times to get him removed: that's harassment, and grounds for a restraining order.

Also, remember that last application you filled out--- you had to list past FELONIES. Because they're illegal. And employers do need to protect themselves from that. However, when was the last time you filled out an application that required you to list your past "unfortunate decisions"?? Would you still have a job? I know I wouldn't.

That said - I WOULD STAND BY MY EMPLOYEE. He has done nothing at work to cause me to regret my decision in hiring him to MAKE SANDWICHES. Just because ONE bigot has a problem does not mean I need to get rid of him to protect my business.

And - like I said - let the guy protest. Whether its my store or not, I WOULD be the person standing next to him with the "this guy watches gay porn" sign.

You said it best - he made an "unfortunate decision" in his past. Whether he regrets it or not, it happend. We've all been there. Life is about learning. And I'm willing to give anyone a chance. And when they earn my respect, they also earn my loyalty. I don't care who they used to be or what they used to do. And what are they going to do - fire me for defending my employee. Let them.

I have lived in one of the smallest towns in Missouri my whole life and this doesn't really surprise me. Most people here are like that.I did just send subway an email letting them know how ridiculous this is and that I am now never going there again because of this.

I just sent this statement to Subway. I hope other people are doing the same:

I just read a disgusting article about an employee who was fired for having worked in gay porn. A customer, ONE customer said he would boycott the store this employee worked at because he recognized the employee from a pornographic video he/she had seen. Which of course begs the question of why this customer had seen it in the fist place. This employee is not teaching children, or running for office, or prostituting himself behind the counter. He is making sandwiches. I will absolutely not go to any Subway store until Subway does the following:

1. Make a public apology for Subway's hateful, needless firing.

2. Remove the supervisor who terminated the employee.

3. Offer the employee his job back, although I doubt seriously that he would ever consider working for Subway again after this kind of treatment.

He was fired over one customer's ridiculous complaint. One person threatened to boycott the store. Well I am about to utilize facebook, myspace, and whatever else I can think of to get everyone I know to boycott Subway. Though I have a history in activism, I am one of those younger people suddenly galvanized into an interest in politics and social justice. So are my friends and I can promise you that none of us will be eating at your poorly kept-up stores, $5 foot-longs or not.

I have been an expat for two years now, living in Taiwan. I love St. Louis, and miss it dearly. I love to tell those I meet overseas, who have not been to St. Louis, how wonderful it is. The Victorian era buildings, the history, the cosmopolitan community...

Although the news story concerning the young Mr. Wild interested me for other reasons, I was especially shocked to see that this ugliness happened in my home town.

Please, don't make me ashamed to tell my friends I live in St. Louis. Please don't let Missouri's unfortunately lax labor laws prevent your corporate office from taking responsibility for humiliating this young man. Although Missouri as a whole is conservative, the city of St.Louis is, I am sure, appalled that this person lost their job for reasons that should not concern any employer.

I am thousands of miles away and yet I came across this incident via Fark. The story is now global. I would suggest those in authority at Subway take steps to avoid being named the next IHOP, in terms of it's intolerance.

He didn't get fired for being gay. He got fired because he became the focus point of a potential public relations storm. I think people should be allowed to hire and fire whomever they want.

If Kurt was trying to run an establishment that provided some service to the gay community and it was discovered that one of his employees was a former Christian pastor who denounced homosexuals should Kurt be allowed to fire him when his customers started raising hell?

I find it interesting that so many people seem to accept doing porn as regular, normal behavior. Are we at a point where it's no big deal to have have sex on screen for others to watch?

I live in a right to work state so if someone discovered I had a porn background I would probably be fired too and there wouldn't be anything I could do. Sometimes people need to think about the possible ramifications of their choices.

I do think the customer who complained was revealing more about himself than he probably thought he was.

Privacy rights? What a joke. Straight or gay, in America, you forfeit your right to privacy once you enter an entertainment industry like pornography. If you want to make easy money by having sex on screen, good on you; you should be in no way shocked or upset, however, when it cuts down on your employment opportunities outside of the sex industry. If Mr. Wild was too stupid to understand the the ramifications of his decision to enter the porn industry then he deserves everything he's getting.

Working in porn, regardless of how much it's viewed by the American public, is a stigma that will follow you your entire life. A large portion of the American public belongs to some faith or another, and all of those "people of faith" are very likely to have a problem with someone who has done that sort of work. This is not surprising to anyone with a shred of intellect that didn't spend their formative years trapped in a box. You can't enter the world of porn and expect that the same public is going to treat you the same once you come out. If you want to be treated the same as everyone, don't fuck for money.

I don't give a dang what this guy did for a living before his Subway gig. I wonder how the offended dude even knew the employee was a former gay porn star unless he's watched some of that genre! I'm not gay but don't care what anybody else is up to in their bedrooms or on film. WHATEVER! And so I'm of the opinion, yeah, boycott Subway! Unfortunately, I was long ago of the opinion that Subway SUCKS and haven't eaten there in many years and had written them off way back then. So my personal contribution to the boycott can consist of agreeing with you and maybe convincing someone else to join, if I can actually find someone who is stupid enough to pay money for a crappy Subway sandwich.

"Working in porn, regardless of how much it's viewed by the American public, is a stigma that will follow you your entire life."

this is exactly the attitude that people are complaining about dude. There is no reason for it. Why does anyone care what someone else does with a)their body b)for a living. He's not jamming his schlong up YOUR ass for a living, nor is he wiping it on the subs he is making. So where is the issue?

So, the manager of this Subway restaurant, in order to avoid bad publicity, caters to the wishes of one closeted customer and fires an employee that used to work in gay porn.

Okay.. Good job! You've avoided all that bad publicity for you, your store, your city, and the franchise. I hope Subway decides to fire you for your poor decision-making skills (which would be, at least, an appropriate reason to be fired).

Heck, if I "recognized" the guy behind the counter as a gay porn star, I'd be more likely to keep quiet about it than raise such a fuss. I think there's more to this story than is being told...

Yeah, lovely hypocritical customer there-- gay porn is OK to beat your meat to but at the same time it's "wrong" and the people who made your wank-material don't deserve to have non-porn jobs. Ooohhhh-kaaaayyy....

Subway has no "cause" for the firing, unless there is some bizarre MO law which states that some forms of prior employment make you unemployable, which I doubt, as such laws would have to violate the U.S. Constitution.

There may not be protection in place for firing you over sexual orientation, but who's to say your rights still weren't violated on other grounds? Was the porn that was created violating any laws at the time? Did your employer at Subway clearly outline their policy against employing ex-porn actors upon hiring you? Until the customer brought up this issue, did you in any way broadcast that you had acted in porn to any customers?

Even if these points don't grant you a win on the legal level, they might help you otherwise. I also suggest you send in your story to www.consumerist.com. It's quite possible that you'll get Subway's attention, that way, as the big businesses hate the negative press they get over there.

I sent a note to the Subway corporation telling them that until they apologize to Mr. Wild and reinstating him with all pay and benefits lost, I would not only boycott Subway (and I enjoy my footlongs there), but I would tell everyone I know to boycott Subway as well.

Wow that's rediculous. I hope Jarred can smell that lawsuit comin'. People should never be descriminated against for their sexual orientation. I'm straight as an arrow and I could care less if someone serving me is gay, much less if they were in porn. Getting paid for sex? Lucky guy.

The orginal complainer is an obvious homophobic self loathing closet gay man. A total hater. I wonder what made he feel so strongly about it that he couldn't simply request that Kurt not make his sandwich? More importantly it is a true shame that the management caved in to such a crude request.

Unbelievable. This is as stupid as the story of the self-righteous people infiltrating libraries, checking out books and refusing to return them because they find the books "inappropriate". We don't necessarily have to agree with or support someone's lifestyle. We can still get along can't we? All this customer did was make a complete jackass out of himself. Some of these right wing conservative nutcases are so narrow-minded they can probably look through a keyhole with both eyes. These people really need to get a life. As for being fired from subway, why would you want to work for them anyway? Surely you can do better than that.

Just to play devils advocate here for a moment - on Mr. Wilds Employment Application did he list his previous work experience? If not, then that actually could constitute not totally disclosing his past thus give Subway a valid and legal way to fire him. Let me state for the record - I DO NOT AGREE with their decision and I would be miffed it happened to me - but, gay porn doesn't need me anymore.

1) The Federal anti-discrimination laws supersede the state laws only where the state laws directly contrast the federal law. In an at-will state, they cannot refuse to hire you or fire you for your sexual orientation. That can be gotten around as simply as saying they fired you for X reason.

2) The people saying if he didn't list it on his employment application that's a reason fore being fired are, unfortunately, wrong. Without going into the legal aspects of it, they can only use that as a firing instance if the job in question: a) resulted in termination for any reason b) is in a similar field or line of business to the one you are applying to where an evaluation might be useful or c) resulted in job skills you claimed on your resume.

For example, if I was a porn star applying to be a camera man, a set designer, an actor, or even a screenwriter, I would have to list down the fact that I had acted in pornographic movies. If I was applying to be a bank teller, however, unless I was fired from that job or put down my skills at fluffing down on my resume, I don't have to list it.

Subway has no legal legs to stand on except that they're in a state with very loose laws and they're likely to have made sure binding arbitration is the result from any termination. Suing won't get the poor man his job back, they can say they fired him for public image reasons and it's perfectly valid and legal. If a pile of crap.

I recommend you try Quizno's if they are in your area. Better service, a much wider selection of sandwiches, and best of all it's not run by a pack of smarmy goddamned doctors looking for a tax shelter.

I'm sorry you lost your job, but there are better things out there for you. And a lot of people who don't give a rats ass what you used to do. At least you didn't take a bath in the sink like that idiot from Ohio. *eww*

This sucks. I'm joining the Subway boycott. And for all the people who're saying stuff like "well he should've thought about it before he worked in porn"? Uh do YOU know this guy? You don't know why he went into porn, what his life was like, or what his motivations were then. Also, stigmatizing sex workers= not cool. I'm not a big fan of porn myself, but I'm not going to condemn someone for doing it.Also, just because the guy had sex on camera, now he doesn't get to have a normal life or non-sex jobs ever again? That's kind of a stupid philosophy. Don't we tell the fundies: you don't have to like us or what we do. But you do have to treat us with equality, dignity and respect.Come on.

Personally speaking I have nothing but the utmost RESPECT for Gay porn stars and even sex "workers"! Some of the johns and sleazeball movie producers these human beings have to deal with is absolutely reprehensible! We all get off on the gay porn action but hardly ANYONE stops to consider the absolute shit that these folks sometimes have to go through! I wish I was standing next to the asshole who outed this Kurt kid! Motherfucker would've been missing a few teeth!

I heard on Oprah that a new book was coming out by Trey Noran called No Way Out? The Curse Society. And that it was going to stir up a lot of anger but truth in the gay society. Does anyone know when it will be out??

Yes its wrong, its horrible, and the subway manager who fired someone over this should feel guilty over it, but the sad fact of the matter is that here in Missouri we have what is called At Will employment, which means that there IS no such thing as a wrongful termination as far as the government here is concerned.

Just recently all the people at a barber shop in the building i was working in were fired all on one day, with no notice, because of a rudeness complaint that was called into the owners office.

Honestly, this isn't just a gay issue, but a workers rights issue. People shouldn't just be able to fire you for whatever reason they please.

I own a lot of gay porn, but I dont think I would notice anybody in public. I bet the guy saw you once and went home to watch the movie, to make sure it really was you. He probably could not get it up and got mad. Thats my theory.

What does it matter if he did gay porn or not? That has absolutely nothing to do with his being able to make sandwiches.

That being said i do agree that any kind of porn, gay or str8t can cause certain ramifications. I think it's silly and dumb but then again that's my minority point of view. I can understand if you don't want your religion teacher to have a pornography background. I can't understand it as much with your sandwich maker. Just as long as he keeps his foot long out of their foot longs.

I think it has to do with his terms of employment. Typically when you work for any business you have a book of rules or something similar. And most likely in the book it talks about best promoting the business and representing it in a positive light. Porn whether gay or straight does not promote a positive public image

I used to eat in subway every other day, note I used to eat their this is so F**k**, for so many reasons. I have a theory this guy either is a closet gay and homophobic at that. Or he goes in to town looking for people that he things might be gay, then trawls the web looking for evidence to get them fired in either even this is one sad sandwich eater.

Wash their hands ? Do you think he's just hanging out behind the counter doing something "like in the movie" ? Don't be stupid. This is a clear violation of Mr Wild's rights. I've written a complaint to Subway and have notified the Human Rights Campaign in Wash. D.C and have called for an immediate boycott of Subway. Unfortunate b/c those sandwiches are good !

Two things:1) Being a porn star should produce enough cash for him NOT tobe working at a minimum pay at a Subway shop.2) The Police report says that he is married with a kid. Is he gay or is he gay for pay only?

I am gay and own a security company which provides security to 14 subway restaurants. not only that, i finance subway community projects etc, etc.I plan on getting in contact with subway and letting them know im pulling security services from their restaurants and will no longer provide finance at all...the above incident is ridiculous and any state which does not look after the working man is just as much to blame.

Obviously the customer hs spent so much time watching that particular gay porn that they recognized the actor beyond a reasonable doubt. Personally, even if I saw a porn star in public I would assume it was just someone that looked like them. Personally I'm going to boycott subway over this whole issue, but its not like I still eat there anyway, their sandwiches suck compared to Quizzno's and St. Louis Bread Company.

Like Michael said before...how would the guy know if he hadn't been watching the porn himself. Here's another question: would he have issues with a female porn star working there? Or would he eat there MORE often?????

Hopefully Chris will help his Uncle.His Uncles cause is a good one. I had a ex-lover who look like Chris Allen. What soes Chris Allen's Uncle look like?? They say he is a ex-gay is the really ex-gays?? Don't believe there is but if so good for him. It's a hard life style.

I feel like we all should stop eating at subway if this is how they feel agaist gay people. We have the same right as anybody else to work anywhere we please. I don't care if MR. Wilds did porn or not i would love for him to make my sandwich so i can look at his pretty butt as he's making it. We need to stop the hate in this world there to much of it in the world

Subway never employed a "Kurt Wild" as "Kurt Wild" is a fictional porn character portrayed by a dis-ingenuous and dishonest person who in dis-honor and shame does not use his legal name. If he has a legal beef with subway then he ought stand up like a real man with a real name. Subway is right to dismiss him in order to protect their good name.

I believe all Subway stores are independently owned franchises, so I have to wonder, how did "Subway" fire this guy? Or was it the store owner? Regardless, if an employer doesn't want you working for them, start looking for a new job--life is too short to worry about the small stuff.